Editor’s note: Vinh Giang, a keynote speaker at ISACA Conference Europe 2021, a virtual event to take place 20-22 October, gained an entrepreneurial spirit and mindset from his parents, who fled Vietnam to Australia in 1981 and went on to start multiple successful businesses; their example inspired him to see the possibilities in life. He now travels the world, using the themes of perspective, empowerment, goal-setting, and positive mindset to encourage others to believe in the possibility of positive change. Giang recently discussed some of these themes with ISACA Now. The following is a transcript, edited for length and clarity:
ISACA Now: What makes goal-setting transformative for professionals’ career growth?
When we set goals, we create clarity for the future. Often people say they feel lost. You are generally not lost, you are just overwhelmed and lack clarity, and that’s why goal-setting is so powerful – it removes the fog and allows you to see the path ahead. Setting goals also allow you to know when to say no. There’s a great quote by author Greg McKeown, who says, “Only once you give yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, to stop saying yes to everyone, can you make your highest contribution towards the things that really matter.”
Only when we have complete clarity on what it is that we need to achieve can we start saying no and make our highest contribution with what we do personally and professionally.
ISACA Now: What does re-imagining communication mean to you and how can professionals go about doing that?
When I say re-imagining communication, this is what I mean: Your voice is an instrument more powerful than you realize. Throughout history, there have been speeches that have shaped countries for the better and speeches that have destroyed others. Your voice can move someone to tears, it can motivate someone to take action or it can just be background noise that becomes irritating. One of the most powerful techniques you can use to become the best communicator you can be is called record and review:
Step 1: Record a 5-minute video of yourself.
- Talk about your day, your favorite food or something you are passionate about. Content isn’t critical here.
Step 2: Watch the video back without sound.
- This is what we call a virtual review. Start taking notes as you watch yourself and build self-awareness. Create a list of what you like and what you want to improve.
Step 3: Put the volume on max, press play and turn the phone around so you can’t see yourself. Just listen.
- This is what we call an auditory review. Take notes on how you sound and build self-awareness. Create a list of things you like and things you want to improve.
Step 4: Get the video transcribed.
- Print out the transcription, get a highlighter and start highlighting your nonwords and filler words. Become aware of these as they rob you of credibility, authority and clarity.
*Nonwords (the sounds you make to fill the silence), filler words (the words we say to fill the silence, such as “Like,” “So,” “Do you know what I mean?”, etc.)
If you go through this process just four times over a period of four weeks you will completely clean up your visual and vocal communication effectiveness.
ISACA Now: For people who might be overwhelmed by the degree of change going on right now, how can they shift their mindsets and thrive in this turbulent landscape?
There’s one powerful lesson that changed it all for me – it’s a lesson from legendary college basketball coach John Wooden, who said, “If you focus on the thing you can’t control, you’ll soon lose control of the things you can control.”
Make a list of things you can control and focus on those things. Let everything else go.